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February 6, 2012 – Today, on a vote of 75-20 the U.S. Senate gave final congressional approval to a Federal Aviation Administration Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, which includes key provisions pushed by Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson that protect economic development, improve airport infrastructure in rural Nebraska communities and protect air travelers from invasive body scanners.
“This bill is a win for airports in Nebraska and across our country because it will help ensure that we have an effective, efficient and safe transportation network and will help put people to work on important infrastructure projects. An effective transportation network is critical to our national security, economic development and job growth,” said Senator Nelson.
“The FAA bill includes initiatives I pushed for to ensure that Nebraska airports keep safety and infrastructure projects on track, and retain commercial air service our communities need for job creation and economic development.“
The final House-Senate FAA conference report includes a provision that keeps the most remote small airports in the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which they need to maintain commercial airline service, a key draw for economic development. The bill states that airports serving an average of 10 or fewer passengers per day will no longer receive EAS support unless those airports are more than 175 driving miles from the nearest large- or medium-sized airport.
This designation protects Nebraska’s airports in Alliance, McCook and Chadron, which are farther than 175 miles from larger airports. Nebraska’s four other EAS-supported airports serve more than 10 passengers per day.
“The City of Alliance and the Alliance Municipal Airport are very happy to learn of the continuance of Essential Air Service to our community and appreciate the efforts of Senator Nelson in the process,” said Alliance Airport Manager Lynn Placek. “EAS is vital to the economic growth progress of smaller communities and the need to be connected to larger cities.”
Extension of Mileage Adjustment
Nelson also supported a provision that extends through September 2015 a rule requiring the Secretary of Transportation to consult states when determining the most common route when calculating mileage between an Essential Air Service airport and a medium or large airport. This will be used when assessing an airport’s eligibility in the EAS program.
This extension eliminates situations like the one that occurred for the Western Nebraska Regional Airport years ago, where the route approved by the Department of Transportation was one that few people traveled and would actually take an hour longer for travelers to get to Denver International Airport, and yet was critical in determining whether airports qualify for federal Essential Air Service support.
Airport Improvement Program Funding
In addition, this legislation continues policies that allow Western Nebraska Regional Airport, North Platte Regional Airport and Kearney Regional Airport to utilize the Airport Improvement Program. Specifically, these airports get to use this funding on projects related to enhancing airport safety, capacity, security, and environmental concerns. In general, airports can use AIP funds on most airfield capital improvements or repairs and in some specific situations, for terminals, hangars, and non-aviation development.
Body Imaging
Finally, the bill includes a provision that requires the federal Transportation Security Administration to begin using automatic targeting recognition by June 1, 2012. This technology produces generic pictures. TSA can delay the move for up to one year if the agency determines that: the automatic targeting is not as effective as advance imaging technology; or additional testing of such software is necessary.
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